Polygonal electric lighting dining table



Dec. 31, 1963 G. o. THAXTON 3,116,088

POLYGONAL ELECTRIC LIGHTING DINING TABLE Filed Sept. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 Green Osbon Tlzax/on INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,115,088 PDLYGONAL ELECTRIC LEGHTING DINING TABLE Green Ushon Thaxton, 16(3'7 Evarts St. NE, Washington,

D.C., assignor of fifty percent to Mary C. Thaxton,

Washington, D.C.

Filed Sept. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 14 3, 139 Claims. (Cl. 297157) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in table constructions, and more specifically to an improved dining table.

The average dining table is provided with four legs. Not only that, but the average chair is also provided with four legs. As a result, when it is desired to clean beneath and around a dining table, it is necessary either to completely remove the chairs from the dining table or to clean around numerous legs. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved dining ensemble wherein the dining table and chairs are mounted as a unit and the two cooperate to help support each other whereby a minimum of floor engaging legs are required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved dining table construction which includes a central standard supporting the table top of the dining table, there being a plurality of arms which extend outwardly from the standard and which have their outer ends supported by single legs, the outer end of each of the arms having mounted thereon a chair which is associated with the table top.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved dining table construction, the dining table including a table top which is polygonal in outline and there being provided one chair for each side of the table top, the chairs being mounted as a unit with the dining table and being aligned with their respective sides of the table top.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved dining table which includes a table top polygonal in outline, there being associated with each side of the table top a chair, there also being a lamp overlying the table top, the lamp being divided into a plurality of individual sections with each of the sections facing one of the sides of the table top, there being provided separate illuminating means for each of the sections and separate controls for each of the illuminating means whereby the individual sections of the dining table may be illuminated as desired.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved dining table construction, the dining table construction being formed of a plurality of similar parts and being so constructed whereby it may be readily knocked down for shipment into a small package.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the dining table which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline of the components thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the dining table and shows further the details thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper or central portion of the dining table and shows the specific connection between the table top and the supporting standard therefor, there also being shown specific details of the lamp carried by the table and its connection to the standard;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the secice tion line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and shows the specific connection between the standard and the arms which support the chair;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line -5-5 of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details of the mounting of one of the chairs;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 and shows further the details of the mounting of one of the chairs; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 and shows additional features of the mounting of the chair.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the dining table which is the subject of this invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The dining table 10 includes a polygonal table top 12 which may be of any construction. The table top 12 is illustrated as having five sides although the number of sides may vary as is desired. The table top 12 is supported by a supporting structure comprising a standard which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The upper end of the standard member 16 is in the form of a mounting plate 24 which is secured to the undersiide of the table top 12 by means of a plurality of fasteners 26.

For each side of the table top 12 there is provided a horizontally disposed arm which is secured to a lower portion of the standard '14 and which extends outwardly therefrom. Each of the arms is referred to by the reference numeral 28 and includes an inner vertical mounting flange 3%} which is adjustably secured to the standard member 16 by means of a plurality of bolts 32 which are selectively threadedly engaged in vertically spaced internally threaded bores 34 in the standard member 16. As is best shown in FIGURE 1, the support arms 28' are generally semicircular in outline.

As is best shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the outer end of each support arm 28 is bifurcated to provide a continuing flange 36 and an offset flange 33 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the continuing flange 36. The oflset flange 33 is connected to the particular flange 36 by means of a connecting flange 4i). The continuing flange 36 terminates in a vertically disposed oilset flange 42 which is parallel :to the offset flange 4t} and which together with the flanges 35 and 38 form a box. Also, there is formed integral with the continuing flange 36 a horizontal flange 44 which overlies the flange 38 and projects to the right thereof, as is shown in FIG- URE 6. Underlying the flange 44 and disposed in spaced parallel relation thereto is a plate 46. The plate 46 is suitably secured to the flanges 38 and 42.

The outer end of each arm 28 is supported by a leg 48 which extends upwardly between the flanges 36, 38, 40 and 42. The leg 48 is clamped in place by means of a setscrew 59. The lower end of each leg 48 is provided with a foot 52 which is secured to the floor 2% by means of a fastener 54.

Supported by each of the arms 28 is a chair which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The chair 56 may be of any construction, but includes a seat portion 58 and a back portion 66. Also, the individual chair 56 includes a suitable arm rest 62. As is shown in FIGURES l and 2, if it is so desired, the arm rest 62 may be provided with small elongated ashtrays 64 which are retained in place by spring clips 66.

Secured to the underside of the seat portion 58 of each chair 56 is an upwardly opening channel support member 63. The chair support member 68 has secured to the underside thereof a relatively fiat C-shaped or U-shaped member 7%. The C-shaped or U-shaped memher 70 includes an upper flange 72, a lower flange 74 and an intermediate web 76. The flange 72 directly underlies the support 68 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding 78. Disposed between the flanges '72 and 74 is the flange 44.

Secured to the underside of the flange 74 is a block 80. The block 80 rests upon a thrust washer 82 which is in turn carried by the plate 46. Extending upwardly through the plate 46, the thrust washer 82, the block 80, the flange 74', the flange 44 and being threadedly engaged into the flange 72 and the support member 68 is a pivot bolt 84. Thus the chair 56 is mounted for pivotal movement about the pivot bolt 84. It is to be noted that the flange 44 has a rounded edge 86 to clear the web 76, as is best shown in FIGURE 7.

In order that the individual chair 56 may automatically be returned to its position of FIGURE 1, there is provided a coil leaf spring 8-8. The spring '88 encircles the block 811 and has one end anchored thereto as at 93' in FIGURE 7. The opposite end of the spring 88 terminates in a loop 92 which is carried by a pin 94 secured to an offset portion of the plate 46.

By pivotally mounting the individual chairs 56, they may be turned substantially 90 from their position of FIGURE 1 to facilitate ones getting into and out of the chair. However, the movement of the chair 56 back to its normal position is facilitated by the spring 88. Further, additional movement of the individual chair 56 is limited by engagement of its web 76 with its associated flange 44, as is shown in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3 in particular, it will be seen that there is mounted in the center of the table a lamp which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 96. The lamp 96 includes a tubular support 98 which has its lower end threadedly engaged in an internally threaded bore 100 carried by the central part of the mounting plate 24. Passing upwardly through the standard member '16 is an' electric wire 10-1 whose opposite end is connected to a suitable power source which may be mounted beneath the floor 20. T e wire 181 is connected to a plurality of branch wires 102 which are in turn connected to individual switches 104 having push button controls 106, there being one switch 104 for each of the chairs 56.

It is to be noted that the lamp 96 includes a shade 108 which is polygonal in outline and which has a number of sides corresponding to the number of the sides of the table top 12. Further, the shade 108 is positioned so that its individual sides correspond with the sides of the table top *12.

Carried by the support 98 is a plurality of partitions 110. The partitions 1 10 extend vertically along the support 98 and project outwardly into engagement with the shade 108 at the intersections of its sides. Thus the partitions 110 divide the lamp 96 into a plurality of individual units or sections, each of the sections facing a corresponding side of the table top 12.

Carried by the upper end of the support 98 is a mounting plate 112. The mounting plate 112 has secured to the underside thereof a plurality of sockets 114, there being one socket 114 for each section of the lamp 96. Each of the sockets 114 carries an electric bulb 116. It is to be understood that the individual electric bulbs 116 have the illumination thereof controlled by the individual switches 104. Thus the desired section of the table top 12 may be illuminated as desired. Further, this illumination may be controlled by the individual diner through his individual switch 104. Thus the individual diner is given the choice of lighting his section of the table as desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A table assembly comprising a table top, a plurality of chairs encircling said table top, said table top being polygonal in outline, said table top having one side for each of said chairs, a lamp, and a support for said lamp secured to said table top, said" lamp includingparti tions dividing said lamp into a plurality of circumferentially spaced individual sections, illuminating means for each of said sections, said sections corresponding in number to said chairs with individual ones of said sections facing respective ones of said chairs.

2. A table assembly comprising a table top, a plurality of chairs encircling said table top, said table top being polygonal in outline, said table top having one side for each of said chairs, a lamp, a support for said lamp secured to said table top, said lamp including partitions dividing said lamp into a plurality of circumferentially spaced individual sections, illuminating means for each of said sections, said sections corresponding in number to said chairs with individual ones of said sections facing respective ones of said chairs, and separate control means for each of said illuminating means carried by said table top adjacent said chairs.

3. A dining ensemble comprising a plurality of spaced legs disposed in a circular path on a support, horizontal arms on the upper portions of the legs extending inwardly therefrom, a standard mounted on the inner end portions of the arms and supported thereby in vertically spaced relation to the support, a top mounted on the standard, a

lurality of chairs, and means swivelly mounting the chairs on the arms, said arms including boxes on their outer ends vertically slidably receiving the upper end portions of the legs, and setscrews in the boxes removably securing the legs therein.

4. The combination of claim 3, said means including generally U-shaped members mounted horizontally beneath the bottoms of the chairs, horizontal flanges on the arms engaged in said members, horizontal plates on the arms below the members and spaced therefrom, and pivot bolts aflixed to the chair bottoms and passing through the members, the flanges and the plates for piv-' otally securing said members on said flanges.

5. The combination of claim 4, together with springs on the plates operatively connected to the bolts for yieldingly retaining the chairs in inwardly facing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,709 Hickman July 9, 1925 1,118,447 Rose Nov. 24, 1914 1,538,198 Manchester May 19, 1925' 1,680,828 Walton Aug. 14, 1928 1,744,425 Wanner Jan. 21, 1930 2,163,615 Marsh July 27, 1939 2,261,514 Dunigan Nov. 4, 1941 2,382,183 Thaxton Aug. 14, 1945 2,589,719 McKinney Mar. 18, 1952 2,845,110 Grawl July '29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 864,895 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1961 1,174,036 France Nov. 3, 1958 

1. A TABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TABLE TOP, A PLURALITY OF CHAIRS ENCIRCLING SAID TABLE TOP, SAID TABLE TOP BEING POLYGONAL IN OUTLINE, SAID TABLE TOP HAVING ONE SIDE FOR EACH OF SAID CHAIRS, A LAMP, AND A SUPPORT FOR SAID LAMP SECURED TO SAID TABLE TOP, SAID LAMP INCLUDING PARTITIONS DIVIDING SAID LAMP INTO A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS, ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID SECTIONS, SAID SECTIONS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER 